Entrancing Buddha’s Steps By Luxury Cruise India 20 Days
- 20 Days
- Maximum Capacity: 20
- If Cancelled, Please Refer To Our Cancellation Policy
Adult
Description
Exploring Buddha trails in a luxury cruise plus exploring Taj Mahal is a unique journey back in time conjoining the two different sides of life. On one hand is Buddha Pilgrimage which teaches us to uplift from the pains and suffering of life through treading the path walked by Lord Buddha. This includes the place of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment, Bodhgaya; the place where he delivered numerous discourses, Rajgir; the place of his first sermon, Sarnath; the site of his final Mahaparinirvana, Kushinagar and the site of his birth, Lumbini.
Other side of the journey allows tourists to witness a marvel that rose out of grief of an Emperor for his wife, Taj Mahal. This is one of the great tourist attractions often considered identical to India and its unmatched architectural heritage. Visit the world heritage site, Taj Mahal and witness the marvel erected Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the mortal remains of Queen Mumtaz Mahal as a absolute conclusion to the Buddha and Taj Mahal Tour.
Duration
20 Days, 19 Nights
Language
English
HIGHLIGHTS
Explore Kolkata on arrival and overnight stay
Sail the Ganges from Farakka to Samtaghat
Visit ancient Vikramshila University ruins
Witness the evening Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
Discover the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini
Included
- 19 Nights’ Of Accommodation In 3 Star Hotels As Per Desire With Base Category Of Rooms At Each Place
- Daily Breakfast At All The Hotels
- All Transportation, Driver And Sightseeing Tours Using An AC Medium Car.
- Sightseeing As Per Tour Program.
- Explore Kolkata on arrival and overnight stay
- Sail the Ganges from Farakka to Samtaghat
- Visit ancient Vikramshila University ruins
- Witness the evening Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
- Discover the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini
- All Pick-Ups & Drop-Offs As Per Itinerary.
- All Taxes, Parking, Toll Charges, Driver Allowance, And Service Charges
Excluded
- Medical Insurance Of Any Kind
- Any Domestic / International Flight Fares
- Any Meals ( Unless Specified )
- Anything Except In Inclusions.
- Any Guide Services & Monument Fees As Per Tour Plan
- Any Expenses Arising Out Of Unforeseen Circumstances Like Flight Delay/Cancellation/Fare Hike, Strike Or Any Other Natural Calamities.
- Personal Nature Expenses I.E. Telephone Calls, Laundry, Soft / Hard Drinks, Meals, And Tipping
Travel Itinerary
1 - Arrive Kolkata
On arrival at Kolkata airport you shall be greeted and get transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Night stay is in Kolkata
2 - Kolkata / Farakka – Samtaghat
Board an early morning train in Kolkata to arrive at Farakka by midday. Transfer from the train station to the jetty for embarkation. Lunch onboard while the ship sails on the main Ganges River towards Samtaghat.
Dinner & overnight onboard
3 - Samtaghat – Bateshwarsthan
Today we sail full day towards Bateshwarsthan enjoying breakfast and lunch. You will be fascinated by the passing landscape and the lively life on the river. We will arrive in Bateshwarsthan by evening.
Dinner & overnight onboard
4 - Bateshwarsthan – Sultanganj
After breakfast drive in cars to the 8-9th century excavation site of the Vikramshila University and walk around the ruins. Vikramshila University was an important Buddhist centre of learning under the rule of the Pala Dynasty. Subjects like theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, and logic were taught here. We return to the ship and sail towards Sultanganj while enjoying lunch onboard.
Dinner & overnight onboard
5 - Sultanganj – Munger
After breakfast excursion to Sultanganj, which is notable for two prominent granite rock islands in the river connected to the mainland by a causeway. On one of the islands is a mosque; on the other larger one is the Ajgaibinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. We will visit the Shiva temple. Return to the ship and sail towards Munger while enjoying lunch onboard.
Dinner & overnight onboard
6 - Munger
After breakfast visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. It is one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas, associated with the legend of Lord Vishnu who to save the world from Lord Shiva’s wrath, cut into pieces the corpse of Devi Sati that Shiva was carrying. Return to ship for lunch. Thereafter visit the Munger Fort and the local market popular for fruits, vegetables, textiles, and readymade garments.
Dinner & overnight onboard
7 - Munger – Simaria
Enjoying our breakfast and lunch onboard, we continue our journey further upstream sailing under the great bridge at Mokameh Ghat. We will arrive in Simaria by late afternoon. In the evening walk in the riverside village of Simaria to see the daily activities of the local people.
Dinner & overnight onboard
8 - Simaria – Patna
Today we sail full day through wonderful countryside to Patna, enjoying breakfast and lunch. Patna is the capital of the State of Bihar and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world founded in 490 BCE as Pataliputra.
Dinner & overnight onboard
9 - Patna Disembark / Nalanda – Bodhgaya
Disembark early morning with packed breakfast and drive to the World Heritage Site of Nalanda which was a renowned Mahavihara (Buddhist monastic university) in ancient Magadha operating from 427 until 1197 CE. Continue to Rajgir, which was one of Buddha's most important preaching locations. Lunch at a restaurant here before we continue to Bodhgaya, which is one of the four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha.
Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Bodhgaya
10 - Bodhgaya
After breakfast at hotel visit the World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple, which was the place where Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment under the “Bodhi Tree.” Return to hotel for lunch Thereafter spend the day exploring the several Buddhist temples and monasteries that have been built by the people of various countries like Bhutan, Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. These buildings reflect the architectural style exterior and interior decoration of their respective countries.
Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Bodhgaya
11 - Drive Bodhgaya / Varanasi
After early breakfast at the hotel drive to Varanasi, the holiest town for the Hindus. It also played an important role in the development of Buddhism. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and have lunch. In the evening visit the ghats to experience the activities and hustle-bustle in the by-lanes. Continue to the riverside and witness the evening “Ganga Aarti” ritual.
Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Varanasi.
12 - Varanasi – Sarnath - Varanasi
At early dawn enjoy a sunrise boat tour to witness the incredible scenes along the holy Ganges River. Return to hotel for breakfast. Thereafter visit the archaeological site of Sarnath, where Buddha after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, preached his first discourse to his first five disciples. The Dhamek Stupa here is one of the eight stupas where Buddha’s ashes after his cremation were divided and buried.
Thereafter return back to your hotel for overnight stay.
13 - Varanasi – Kushinagar [By Drive]
Morning checkout and leave for Kushinagar.
Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his last sermon and is one of the four most important places of Buddhist pilgrimage. It was the center of the Mallas dynasty who ruled over the place, however, only few ruins remain today associated with that period. Ashoka the Great had also built many structures in this place where Buddha attained Nirvana.
Arrive and check in at hotel.
In the afternoon visit Nirvana Temple.
Perched high on a plinth, the temple houses reclining Nirvana statue of Lord Buddha and is made of monolithic red sandstone. The statue is placed over huge brick-pedestal with stone-posts at the four ends. Inscriptions are beautifully engraved on the statue which dates back to the 5th century.
Ramabhar Stupa is the cremation site of Lord Buddha and is also called as Mukutbandhan-Chaitya. Overnight stay at hotel.
14 - Kushinagar – Lumbini [By Drive]
Morning checkout and drive to Lumbini. On arrival at Lumbini check in at your hotel.
The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world's great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from as early as the 3rd century BC.
The complex of structures within the archaeological conservation area includes the Shakya Tank; the remains within the Maya Devi Temple consisting of brick structures in a cross-wall system dating from the 3rd century BC to the present century and the sandstone Ashoka pillar with its Pali inscription in Brahmi script. Additionally, there are the excavated remains of Buddhist viharas (monasteries) of the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD and the remains of Buddhist stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature. Picturesque and tranquil backdrop makes it a heaven for tourist
Night stay is in Lumbini.
15 - Lumbini – Kapilvastu – Sravasti [By Drive]
Morning drive to Sravasti. En-route visit Kapilvastu.
Kapilvastu is a very important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the country. Lord Buddha had spent his first twenty nine years of his life. Once the capital of the Shakya kingdom; the place will unfold the story of birth of Buddhist religion. Mystic charm and magic of the village can be felt with spirituality and devotion. The village is sprinkled with many Stupas that were built by Ashoka and Gupta kings.
Finally, proceed to Sravasti
Arrive and check in at hotel for overnight stay
16 - Sravasti – Lucknow [By Drive]
After breakfast visit Sravasti where Buddha delivered many of his important sermons. Sravasti is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the country. Lord Buddha bewildered his sermons with a million fold expression of himself, seated on a thousand-petaled lotus, as fire and water sprung from his body. Also visit Saheth in Sravasti.
Saheth has many famous Buddhist Stupas, monasteries and temples. The main attraction in this historic park is Gandhakuti and Kosambakuti, two chambers used by Buddha. Gandhakuti or fragrant chamber is the most sacred place as it was used as personal chamber by Lord Buddha and devotees offer large amount of flowers to the Lord.
Later drive to Lucknow for your overnight stay.
Overnight stay at hotel
17 - Lucknow – Agra [By Train]
Day is at leisure. In time get transferred to Lucknow railway station to board your train for Agra. On arrival at Agra you shall be transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Night stay is in Agra.
18 - In Agra
Morning visit the magnificent 7th Wonder of the World TAJ MAHAL. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that has the tomb of his beautiful wife Mumtaj Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After some rest move to see the Agra Fort built by Akbar where Shahjahans own son Aurangzeb imprisoned Shahjahan. The Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Evening is free to explore on your own. Spend your night in Agra.
19 - Agra – Delhi [By Drive]
After relaxed breakfast drive to Delhi. It is a scenic 2 hours and 30 minutes’ drive to Delhi. On arrival check in at your hotel and relax. Night stay is in Delhi.
20 - Tour of Delhi & Depart
In the morning, your sightseeing begins. You'll visit the walled city of Old Delhi, where every street is buzzing with activity. The influence of the Mughals, who once ruled from the ramparts of the Red Fort, can be seen extensively. First, you'll visit Jama Masjid—the largest mosque in India, built in the 17th century.
Later, you'll drive past the New Delhi area to visit Raj Ghat, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan(Presidential Palace), the Parliament House, and other colonial buildings. The early 20th-century work of Edwin Lutyens, a British architect, prominently features in the colonial districts.
Finally, visit the famous Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb, a marvelous example of Persian-inspired Mughal architecture.
In time get transferred to New Delhi airport to board your flight for onwards journey. Tour Ends
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Book
Have your breakfast and get prepared for a full day excursion tour. Start your day with visit to Gateway of India and the very famous Taj Hotel. You can further proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum and en route to Mumbai High Court and University. You can go for the picturesque view of Marine Drive and Hanging Garden. Pay a visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station from outside to get the exquisite beauty of the monuments. Later, visit Tower of Silence from outside and Mani Bhavan (which tends to be the house of Mahatma Gandhi). Pay a visit to Jain Temple, World Trade Centre, and Jehangir Art Gallery. You can cover Nehru Planetarium and Haji Ali.
Welcome
Have your breakfast and get prepared for a full day excursion tour. Start your day with visit to Gateway of India and the very famous Taj Hotel. You can further proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum and en route to Mumbai High Court and University. You can go for the picturesque view of Marine Drive and Hanging Garden. Pay a visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station from outside to get the exquisite beauty of the monuments. Later, visit Tower of Silence from outside and Mani Bhavan (which tends to be the house of Mahatma Gandhi). Pay a visit to Jain Temple, World Trade Centre, and Jehangir Art Gallery. You can cover Nehru Planetarium and Haji Ali.
Tour Terms & Conditions
Have your breakfast and get prepared for a full day excursion tour. Start your day with visit to Gateway of India and the very famous Taj Hotel. You can further proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum and en route to Mumbai High Court and University. You can go for the picturesque view of Marine Drive and Hanging Garden. Pay a visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station from outside to get the exquisite beauty of the monuments. Later, visit Tower of Silence from outside and Mani Bhavan (which tends to be the house of Mahatma Gandhi). Pay a visit to Jain Temple, World Trade Centre, and Jehangir Art Gallery. You can cover Nehru Planetarium and Haji Ali.
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